Distributing elongated rolled stock



Feb. 14, 1967 o. GERHARDUS 3,303,919

DISTRIBUTING ELONGATED ROLLED STOCK Filed Nov. 17, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 7%": Way.

Feb 14, 1967 o. GERHARDUS 3,303,919

DISTRIBUTING ELONGATED ROLLED STOCK Filed Nov. 17, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 3

Feb 14, 196? I O. GERHARDUS DISTRIBUTING EL ONGATED ROLLED STOCK Filed Nov. 17, 1964 Fig 4:

4 Shecs-Sheet 4 .711 van far a l; Ada e v United States Patent 3,303,919 DESTRTBUTING ELONGATEE) ROLLED STOCK Otto Gerhardns, Dusseldorf-Heerdt, Germany, assignor to Mannesrnann-Meer Alrtiengesellschaft Filed Nov. 17, 1964, er. No. 411,800 Claims priority, application Germany, Dec. 23, 1963, M 59,360 4 Claims. (Cl. 198- 104) The invention relates to conveyors for elongated rolled stock such as tubes, and relates more particularly to such conveyors for use in connection with cooling pits or adjusting machines for the rolled stocks; still more particularly, the invention in at least some of its aspects relates to an automatic distributing machine for the rolled stock.

In rolling mills, the present tendency is to increase the automatic operation, with full automation of the entire process as the goal. It is therefore desirable to eliminate as much as possible any dependence on manual control.

In the entire rolling mill operation the distribution of the finished elongated rolled stock has, however, proved to be difficult of achievement without manual help. One of the reasons why this has proved so difficult, is that the rolled stock, such as tubes or rods, conveyed from the rolling train usually to a cooling bed, is cut to various sizes while still being subjected to cooling, so that rolled stock of different sizes need to be distributed, and to be conveyed in various directions and to various parts of the machine. Heretofore, it has often been though necessary to apply manual labor at this point to avoid stalling, because stalling at this point gives rise to disturbances of the entire flow of material, resulting in disruption of the whole rolling process. The mischief created by these disturbances makes it desirable to eliminate exactly at that point all vestiges of manual labor.

It is accordingly among the principal objects of the invention to provide a machine for distributing the elongated rolled stock according to its size and to convey the different size stock onto different paths, automatically and without any manual aid.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine that has a series of screw-type conveyors and, interspersed between the conveyors, a group of transport rolls, the transport rolls having at least one outer cylindrical surface, so that the rolled stock will be transported by the screw conveyors in a composite direction of two components at right angles and, upon making contact with the cylindrical surfaces of the transport rolls, be accelerated additionally in the direction of one of these components.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide such a machine in which at least some of the transport rolls have at least two cylindrical surfaces of different diameters, so that along a portion of the length of the transport roll the roll will be out-of-contact with the rolled stock, and, respectively, at a different point along the length of the transport roll, the rolled stock will be in contact with the transport roll and thereby be accelerated by the screw conveyors as well as by the transport rolls.

With the above and other objects of the invention in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of various devices, elements and parts, as set forth in the claims hereof, one embodiment of the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the specification.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

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FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the transport mechanism for elongated rolled stoclc' including a cooling bed,

FIG. 2 is a large scale fragmentary elevational view thereof,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the distributing machine, and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a side bed.

In carrying the invention into effect in one of the embodiments which has been selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings and for description in this specification, and referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided a cooling bed that includes screw conveyors and comprises an upper bed 1, a lower bed 2, and a side bed 3 adjacent the lower bed 2. The lower bed 2 is formed as a machine for distributing the rolled stock, while the side bed 3 (FIG. 4) serves to take over and to convey the elongated tubes and therefore is provided with two conveyor tracks or paths which may lead, for instance, to two straightening machines 4.

The rolled stock in the ensuing description, only by way of exemplification, is identified as elongated hollow tubes. Into the upper bed 1 there reaches a stationary circular saw 5 that cuts the tubes, for instance in half. The halved tubes are conveyed by the distributing machine in the rhythm of the work operation onto the side bed 3 in accordance with a distribution pattern, for instance in such a manner that each halved tube will be conveyed to its respective straightening machine 4.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the distributing machine 6 is arranged below the upper bed 1 and, between the upper bed 1 and its transport machine and the distributing machine 6, there is provided a tiltable connector, such as a rost 7 which is tiltable between a position shown in FIG. 2 in solid lines, wherein the tubes are conveyed to the distributing machine 6 and, respectively, a second position shown in FIG. 2 in broken lines wherein the tubes are conveyed towards a discharge conveyor 8.

The distributing machine shown in FIG. 3 comprises a frame that includes a series of paired screw conveyors 9. The conveyors 9 are provided with threads that have similar shape and twist so that, as shown in FIG. 2, upon rotation in the same direction the conveyors will move the elongated rolled tubes parallel to themselves. Transportation of the tubes by the conveyors 9 will result in movement of the tubes in a composite direction, namely, in the direction of a first component longitudinally of the tubes (for instance to the right, in FIG. 3) and, respectively, in the direction of a second component at right angle to the first component (for instance upwardly, in FIG. 3).

Transport rolls 10, 11 and 12 are furthermore provided, and each transport roll is disposed between two conveyors 9 of each pair of conveyors 9. The axes of all the screw conveyors 9 are disposed in a horizontal plane, and are parallel, and likewise the axes of the transport rolls are in the same horizontal plane and are parallel to the axes of the screw conveyors 9. As best shown in FIG. 3, the transport rolls 10 which are disposed in the region of the second half of the halved tubes are each provided with two outer cylindrical surfaces of different diameters, the surfaces of each diameter extending for about onehalf the length of the transport roll.

In the region of the first half of the halved tubes, there are first provided initial transport rolls 11 which have two cylindrical surfaces of dilferent diameters, but these surfaces are distributed over the length of the transport roll in accordance with an unequal ratio. The remaining transport rolls 12 are provided with only a single cylindrical surface throughout their entire lengths.

All the screw conveyors 9 rotate with the same angular velocity, and all the transport rolls rotate with one angular speed, butthe angular speed of rotation of the transport rolls may be different from that of the screw conveyors 9. The direction of rotation, however, is the same for all the screw conveyors 9 as well as for all the transport rolls 10, 11 and 12.

The operation of the above described equipment in connection with the two halves of a rolled tube cut in half is as follows:

(a) For the second half of the tube: The tube in this region (the lower left region of FIG. 3) is supported solely by the screw conveyors 9, as the smaller diameter of the transport rolls is dimensioned sufiiciently small so that no contact will take place between the external surface of smaller diameter of the transport roll 16 and the exterior of the tube. Rotation of the conveyors 9 will result in the tube being moved in a composite direction, namely at an incline forwardly and sidewardly (upwardly and to the right, in FIG. 3).

Thus, each tube will be moved in an inclined path of transportation until the tube has come into the region of the surface of larger diameter of a transport roll 10. The larger diameter of the transport roll 10, on the other hand, is so dimensioned that the larger surface of the transport roll will make contact with the external surface of the tube suspended thereabove, so that upon such contact the tube will receive additional acceleration in the direction of its longitudinal extension (to the right, in FIG. 3). This will change the angle of inclination of the composite direction in favor of the component in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the tube.

(b) For the first half of the tube: The sole diameter of the transport rolls 12 is so dimensioned that, like the large diameter of the rolls 1%, contact will be made between the transport rolls 12 and the tubes suspended thereabove.

The first tube halves (shown to the right of center, in FIG. 3) are suspended over the transport rolls 12, and, owing to the large single diameter of the rolls 12, will at once receive the aforesaid additional acceleration in the direction (to the right, FIG. 3) of the longitudinal extension of the tubes.

Thus, the first tube halves will be transported much faster to the right (FIG. 3) than the second tube halves, as a comparison between the portions to the left of cen ter and to the right of center of FIG. 3 reveals.

With this arrangement on the distributing machine 6, a separation of the two tube halves is accomplished automatically in accordance with the invention.

Although the transport rolls 1i) and 11 were described as having only two different types of surfaces, it is instead entirely possible and comprised in the scope of the invention, to provide transport rolls with three or more sub-divided surfaces in accordance with different stepped diameters.

The invention provides by way of exemplification that each tube half is being transported to a different straightcning machine 4. For this purpose, the adjoining side bed 3, however, requires a special construction. The side bed 3, as shown in FIG. 4, accordingly provides for two rolling tracks that have termination abutments 13 and 14 at the discharge height, for terminating the sideward movement. It is, however, possible to provide additional abutments at different heights, so that uncut tubes may be transported and directed with this mechanism. As best shown in FIG. 4, the side bed 3' receives the tube halves which are conveyed by the distributing machine of FIG. 3. As previously mentioned, the side bed 3 has two tracks, each for one of the tube halves, and each track terminates in one of the abutments 13 and 14, respectively.

The lower portions of these tracks are provided with transport rolls 15 and 16, with stepped external diameters similar to the transport rolls 10. The transport rolls 15 and 16, however, only partly serve for acceleration and partly serve for retardation of the linear speed of the tubes in their longitudinal direction. Screw conveyors 17 and 18 are provided, as shown in FIG. 4.

The instant system, by way of exemplification, has been shown as being arranged in a cooling pit, but it may instead be arranged in an adjusting device, or in still different surroundings. The instant system renders it possible to distribute automatically with simple means elongated rolled stock in accordance with a predetermined distribution plan. The instant invention offers the advantage of automatic operation in step with the remainder of the rolling operation, avoiding the previously experienced stalling and operational disturbances.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. A transport mechanism for elongated rolled stock comprising an upper transportation cooling bed, a lower transportation cooling bed disposed adjacent, though in a plane lower than that of, said upper cooling bed, and an elongated distributing machine disposed adjacent said lower bed at right angles to the transportation direction of both said beds, the lower of said beds and machine comprising a frame, a plurality of thread carrying screw conveyors and transport rolls journalled on said frame, the axes of rotation of said conveyors and rolls being parallel to each other and in the same horizontal plane, the threads of said conveyors having similar shape and twist, each transport roll being disposed between the two conveyors of each pair of conveyors and having at least one outer cylindrical surface, means operable for rotating said conveyors and rolls in the same direction of rotation, at least some of said transport rolls extending throughout a major portion of the length of said screw conveyors, whereby rolled stock supported on said screw conveyors will be moved in a composite direction COITlposed of a first component in the longitudinal direction of the rolled stock and a second component at right angle thereto, the rolled stock upon making contact with the outer surface of a transport roll receiving additional acceleration in the direction of said first component, the screw conveyors of said machine having their axes of rotation parallel to the direction of transportation of said beds.

2. A machine for distributing elongated rolled stock, comprising a frame, a plurality of thread carrying screw conveyors and transport rolls journalled on said frame, the axes of rotation of said conveyors and rolls being parallel to each other and in the same horizontal plane, the threads of said conveyors having similar shape and twist, each transport roll being disposed between the two conveyors of each pair of conveyors and having at least one outer cylindrical surface, means operable for rotating said conveyors and rolls in the same direction of rotation, whereby rolled stock supported on said screw conveyors will be moved in a composite direction composed of a first component in the longitudinal direction of the rolled stock and a second component at right angle thereto, the rolled stock upon making contact with the outer surface of a transport roll receiving additional acceleration in the direction of said first component, at least some of said transport rolis having at least two cylindrical surfaces of different diameters, each surface extending for a fraction of the length of the roll, the smaller diameter being such that the surface thereof is spaced below the top surface of the two conveyors adjacent said roll, whereby rolled stock above said surface of smaller diameter will be out-of-contact with said transport roll and, respectively, rolled stock disposed above the surface of larger diameter of said roll will make contact With said roll and be accelerated thereby.

3. In a machine, as claimed in claim 2, together with, end passes having abutment surfaces supported by said frame disposed parallel of said axes in the path of said rolled stock and serving to arrest the movement of said rolled stock in the direction of said first component, and means operable for varying the rotational speed of said rolls.

4. A transport mechanism for elongated rolled stock comprising a cooling pit for the rolled stock, a first transport machine in said cooling pit, and a machine for distributing the elongated rolled stock as claimed in claim 2, together With, a tiltable connector between said first transport machine and said distributing machine and operable to be tilted to and from a position wherein it conveys rolled stock from said first transporting machine to said distributing machine.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,873,840 2/1959 Kerr 198l27 X 5 FOREIGN PATENTS 956,394 1/1957 Germany.

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

10 EDWARD A. SROKA, Examiner.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TRANSPORT MECHANISM FOR ELONGATED ROLLED STOCK COMPRISING AN UPPER TRANSPORTATION COOLING BED, A LOWER TRANSPORTATION COOLING BED DISPOSED ADJACENT, THOUGH IN A PLANE LOWER THAN THAT OF, SAID UPPER COOLING BED, AND AN ELONGATED DISTRIBUTING MACHINE DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID LOWER BED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE TRANSPORTATION DIRECTION OF BOTH SAID BEDS, THE LOWER OF SAID BEDS AND MACHINE COMPRISING A FRAME, A PLURALITY OF THREAD CARRYING SCREW CONVEYORS AND TRANSPORT ROLLS JOURNALLED ON SAID FRAME, THE AXES OF ROTATION OF SAID CONVEYORS AND ROLLS BEING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER AND IN THE SAME HORIZONTAL PLANE, THE THREADS OF SAID CONVEYORS HAVING SIMILAR SHAPE AND TWIST, EACH TRANSPORT ROLL BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN THE TWO CONVEYORS OF EACH PAIR OF CONVEYORS AND HAVING AT LEAST ONE OUTER CYLINDRICAL SURFACE, MEANS OPERABLE FOR ROTATING SAID CONVEYORS AND ROLLS IN THE SAME DIRECTION OF ROTATION, AT LEAST SOME OF SAID TRANSPORT ROLLS EXTENDING THROUGHOUT A MAJOR PORTION OF THE LENGTH OF SAID SCREW CONVEYORS, WHEREBY ROLLED STOCK SUPPORTED ON SAID SCREW CONVEYORS WILL BE MOVED IN A COMPOSITE DIRECTION COMPOSED OF A FIRST COMPONENT IN THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION OF THE ROLLED STOCK AND A SECOND COMPONENT AT RIGHT ANGLE THERETO, THE ROLLED STOCK UPON MAKING CONTACT WITH THE OUTER SURFACE OF A TRANSPORT ROLL RECEIVING ADDITIONAL ACCELERATION IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID FIRST COMPONENT, THE SCREW CONVEYORS OF SAID MACHINE HAVING THEIR AXES OF ROTATION PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF TRANSPORTATION OF SAID BEDS. 